Laguna’s sixth grade and under girls team traveled to the Inland Empire recently for the invitation only US Club championships and returned home with the silver medal against some very tough competition.

In the first game, the girls took on the local host team, Chino Hills, with a strong 11-4 win. Later that same day the girls then won their second victory 11-9 after a tough fight with the SOCAL team from Tustin.

The next day’s two victories, against Pasadena 8-2 and San Diego’s Shores 9-4, were accomplished without the more experienced sixth graders.

In the Sunday morning semi-finals, the girls were up against a Foothill team from the San Gabriel Valley. After Laguna’s star player Bella Baldridge was forced to leave the pool with an injury, the younger girls pulled together, played defense and were rewarded with a 9-8 victory and a place in the final.

The final pitted Laguna against Santa Barbara. In the first two quarters, the teams matched each other goal for goal with an 8-8 halftime score. In the second half, Santa Barbara’s more experienced team pulled ahead with a final score of 19-14.

“This was the first year Laguna’s sixth grade and under team had been invited to this high level tournament and they did a great job. It was good preparation for next week’s John Hale Cup and the National Junior Olympics next month,” said club administrator Chad Beeler.